Suddenly, Jacqueline felt she had done well to ask for help. Mrs. Ritz’s eyes were now filled with trust as she watched her back.

Jacqueline asked, looking at the room next to the entrance.

“Is this the cloak room, madam?”

“Yes. On the day of the party, John will receive and store the gentlemen’s coats and hats. Amy will be in the room for the ladies.”

“It would be better to prepare two more mirrors for the ladies. If many ladies gather to touch up, the waiting time will be long. I saw that there are quite a few invited guests on the list.”

“Understood, young lady. John, bring two more mirrors to this room.”

“Yes, madam.”

The two moved in order from the entrance to the cloak room, reception room, smoking room, and finally to the banquet hall, as if they were nobles attending a party.

Jacqueline, with her experience attending numerous parties, pointed out deficiencies with her sharp eyes, and Mrs. Ritz immediately accepted her opinions.

“Flowers with intense colors don’t suit this place. People will say it’s too flashy. In high society, there’s talk whether it’s too luxurious or too modest. There are people who want to find fault everywhere. It would be better to replace them with flowers of lighter colors.”

“I’ll tell the gardener. I should have him prepare more peach-colored carnations.”

“That’s a good idea, Mrs. Ritz. Ah, this tablecloth looks very fine at a glance. Is it made from recently imported fabric? I think I’ve seen it in a catalog.”

“That’s right, young lady Jacqueline.”

“An excellent choice. There will probably be a few noble ladies who show interest in this tablecloth. They’re very interested in trends.”

Mrs. Ritz subtly showed her pride at having her taste praised. Jacqueline asked as she moved to the dining room.

“How do you plan to proceed with the meal?”

“There will be plenty of refreshments prepared, like sandwiches and biscuits. However, important guests will dine separately with the Marquis. Just a few people who can’t be treated carelessly.”

The maids were inwardly surprised at the sight of Mrs. Ritz seriously consulting with Jacqueline. Unbeknownst to Jacqueline, at that moment, her status in the Preston mansion had risen a level.

Not just a simple governess, but as a person who could advise on party preparations. It was the beginning of an unexpected change.

***

Windsor scanned the list of party attendees with his eyes. At that moment, there was a knock and the door opened. He knew who the visitor was just by the sound of footsteps in the hallway.

“What I told you to prepare?”

Roman, who was entering the room, paused. It was because Windsor had asked a question directed precisely at him without even raising his head.

After showing a surprised expression, he moved his steps again with a look that said, ‘Ah, this is the Devil of the Black Fleet.’ Standing in front of the desk, he answered Windsor’s question.

“It will arrive soon.”

“Soon?”

Only then did Windsor slowly put down his pen and give him his attention. Roman, who had been scratching his cheek, straightened his back. Reminding himself anew that Windsor Preston disliked ambiguity.

“It will arrive in 15 minutes.”

“Good.”

Only after escaping the pressure of his gaze did Roman release some of the tension from his stiffened back. Although it had been several years since Windsor retired from the navy, he sometimes seemed like a soldier on the front lines.

Windsor, after checking the clock, dropped his gaze back to the list of attendees.

“My lord.”

Roman cautiously opened his mouth. There was no response from Windsor, but it was clear that he was listening to his words.

After all, wasn’t he the Devil of the Black Fleet who grasped everything happening around him even while sleeping?

“Are you really not going to send an invitation to His Majesty the King? Although it might be too late, even now…”

“Roman Miller.”

“Yes!”

When Windsor called his surname and first name together, Roman’s body stiffened once again. It wasn’t because Roman was a coward. It was an instinct etched into his bones.

Anyone who had seen him mercilessly slaughtering the enemy with an expressionless face amidst flying bullets would act the same way.

He guaranteed that the day he could comfortably deal with Windsor deep in his heart would never come. That was a different story from trust or respect for him. Windsor Preston was never a man who could be treated lightly.

Although he was now hiding his teeth like a shark fallen into the bushes, Roman believed without a doubt that if he found a deep pool, he would devour all the beasts there.

“Don’t discuss that matter any further. Understood?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Just then, there was a knock. As Roman turned his head, William opened the door and entered.

“Viscount James Hamington has arrived.”

“I’ll go now.”

“Yes, he’s waiting in the reception room.”

Windsor, who had risen from his seat, left the study. Roman, following behind him, asked with a dubious expression, “James Hamington?”

However, no answer came from Windsor. With a familiar expression, Roman just shrugged once and followed him down the stairs.

“Ah.”

Windsor turned back with a face that had just remembered something.

“Please call Miss Somerset.”

“Miss Somerset… you mean the governess?”

Windsor took out his watch from his pocket. Click, he opened the lid and continued in an indifferent tone.

“There are 8 minutes left until the lesson ends. Wait outside the door and bring her when the lesson is over.”

“…Yes.”

Not 5 minutes, not 10 minutes, but 8 minutes.

Roman shook his head at that precise number.

Nobles were famous for their lack of time concept. Being 30 minutes late to a party was considered polite, and it took days and days to set up an appointment.

So Windsor was still closer to a soldier than a nobleman. No, would the day ever come when he would really become as carefree as a nobleman?

Roman scratched his head as he headed towards Benjamin’s room.

Only then did Windsor resume his steps that had paused. Opening the door to the reception room and entering, James Hamington, who had been nervously rubbing his palms, jumped up from his seat.

He greeted Windsor with an excessively friendly smile.

“Thank you for contacting me in just a day, Lord Preston. I was getting anxious because time was of the essence.”

Instead of answering, Windsor sat down opposite him. As if waiting for this moment, William brought in tea. Windsor leisurely poured the tea and brought the cup to his lips.

James, who had been constantly licking his lips, just fiddled with his teacup before breaking the silence.

“Hahaha. This is truly a mine that can’t be purchased at this price unless it’s this opportunity. It will be a golden chance for Lord Preston. I guarantee you won’t regret it.”

“Did you bring the documents?”

“Of course, Lord Preston.”

James finally showed a relieved expression when Windsor showed interest. He placed several sheets of paper on the table.

They were land documents and reports analyzing the composition of minerals buried in the mine.

“Let me say it again, if my wife hadn’t fallen ill, I wouldn’t have sold this land. If you just start mining, you can earn five times your investment. No, what’s five times? Ten times, twenty times is possible.”

At that moment, a knock interrupted James’s passionate speech. He stopped mid-sentence and turned his head. His small eyes twisted as if displeased by the sudden interruption.

“Come in.”

With Windsor’s permission, James swallowed his words and leaned back. His crooked gaze turned towards the door.

The door opened and Roman and Jacqueline appeared in turn.

“You called for me…”

Jacqueline, who had casually opened her mouth, froze her expression upon seeing the visitor. She was surprised once at the fact that Windsor’s guest was James Hamington, and once again at the documents placed on the table.

James quietly rolled his eyes, not knowing who these unfamiliar people were. No, regardless of who they were, he wanted to wrap up this conversation as quickly as possible.

A large sum of money was about to fall into his hands. His patience was not long.

“Lord Preston!”

Jacqueline shouted urgently. Windsor slowly raised one hand to stop her words. In the quiet silence that settled, a faint sound of a carriage was heard.

Windsor handed the documents to Roman.

“He says these are land documents and reports analyzing the mineral resources buried in the mine.”

“Hmm.”

Roman received the documents and examined them carefully. Jacqueline bit her lower lip with a face full of things to say.

Walking to the window and holding the papers up to the sunlight, Roman opened his mouth in an indifferent tone.

“This is too crude, my lord.”

At those words, James opened his eyes wide. He opened his mouth to say “What do you mean…” but Roman was a bit faster.

“The date signed on the land document is a hundred years ago, but at that time, paper was made of cotton fiber. It was all handcrafted. But this paper is a processed product stamped out in factories. Since paper factories started appearing 50 years ago, this doesn’t add up.”

James was at a loss for words at this unexpected statement. Belatedly coming to his senses, he tried to make excuses with a flustered expression.

“Well, that’s…!”

But again, Roman was one step faster. His voice was unequivocally firm.

“This is a fake.”

“It’s not!”

James turned to Windsor with an aggrieved expression. Wetting his dry lips with his tongue, he hurriedly opened his mouth.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but this has been passed down in our family for generations…”

“Miss Jacqueline Somerset.”

“…Yes, Lord Preston.”

Jacqueline nodded, looking at him.

James muttered “Somerset?” and turned to look at her. Belatedly realizing her identity, James wore a dismayed expression.

Through the open window, the sound of a carriage stopping in front of the entrance could be heard. The faint sound of William talking to someone also came riding on the wind.

Windsor opened his mouth leisurely, listening to all those sounds. His gaze was still directed at Jacqueline.

“The police have just arrived in front of the house.”

“!”

The one surprised by those words was not her but James. He unconsciously jumped up from his seat. And then he stumbled backward.

A carriage could be seen outside the window. It was a carriage bearing the mark of the police department. Beside it were three horses that police officers ride.

Jacqueline looked at Windsor with calmly settled eyes. He continued in an even tone.

“Whether to press charges against James Hamington for fraud or not, that is Miss Somerset’s free will.”

Jacqueline thought about what would happen if she were to press charges against James. Her name would once again be in the newspapers, and her deceased father’s name would also be mentioned.

The fact that a noble was deceived by a mere fraudster would become a laughing stock, and the honor of the late Baron Somerset would fall to the ground.